Chapter 1- A New Owner

'There's a new human in the house'

'Is it a pretty girl?'

'What's pretty?'

'Nevermind that, is it a girl?'

'Yes it's a girl'

'What does she look like?'

'She has white hair'

'White hair? Is there perhaps a new human?'

'Yes, Kailo says it's a girl'

'A girl? Then is she pretty?'

'Again what is pretty?'

'Pretty is- nevermind, what's her eye color?'

'Is that relevant in this situation?'

'No but I'm curious'

'I can't get close enough to see'

'Then get out of the light and let me out, I wanna see this new human'

'No can do, you had your fun 3 flickers ago'

'Hey Kailo what about me? I haven't been in the light since 7 flickers ago'

'It's because you kept sleeping, Kren took your turn multiple times'

'Kren? I thought Kaiser would steal my turn, Where is Kaiser anyways'

'He went out'

'He's probably dead then?'

'Probably, it's such a shame though even if Kaiser was a man he was really pretty'

'Is Kaiser considered pretty?'

'Well yeah, if you use human aesthetics then Kaiser is definitely pretty'

'If that's the case then the new human is prettier than Kaiser'

'Kailo how would you know that human is prettier? I thought you don't know what pretty means'

'When I look at Kaiser I feel happy and content, when I look at this human I feel even happier'

'That's a....unique way of distinguishing if someone is pretty'

'Kreyo is that the point? Anyways what's her eye color?'

'Kren, again how is that relevant in this situation'

'Kreyo shut it, so Kailo what's the color of her eyes?'

'I can't see- oh wait she's coming closer, it's purple no black'

'Her eye color?'

'No her shirt, it's too dark I can't see her eyes'

'Is it not time for the flicker?'

'It will be in a few hours'

'She'll be gone by then'

'We'll have plenty of time if she moves in'

'That'll be great, we haven't had an owner since we moved in this house'

'If sh-'

***

Without any expression I covered the noisy mirror with a white cloth

Only then did peace return to the world

'That's fucking crazy'

I stared at the covered mirror and annoyance immediately overcame me

'What the hell is wrong with me'

This was the third house that I visited that's haunted, this seriously can't be happening, how come every house I considered has supernatural entities already occupying it

Worse of all this house was already paid for

I have no intention sharing my food with my brother much less share a house with a ghost

This is really pissing me off

I mean how could my luck be this bad?

This house was built just 2 years ago, how come it already has ghost living in it!

It doesn't make any fucking sense!

In frustration I dialed my useless brother and immediately ranted to him as soon as he picked up

"Kaiser what the fuck is wrong with you?! If you were gonna chose a house for me then you should have picked one that isn't haunted"

The line on the other side was quite for a moment as if they were shocked at getting yelled at as soon as they picked up

"Elaine calm the hell down, what's wrong with the house I picked?"

"Calm down?! How the fuck am I gonna calm down if there's a talking mirror in this house! I asked for your opinion because I thought you having lived 10 years more than me would be more knowledgeable in this aspect but your way worse!"

"Worse? The hell you mean worse? That house is in a good location that's close to the city center but it has a wide front and backyard, I also took your suggestion of wanting a quiet environment and the neighbourhood has tight security. What are you even complaining about"

Hearing him talk made me even feel more frustrated. That's right my useless brother chose a good house but there's no house that's good if it's haunted. It's such a waste!

"Did you not hear what I said? I said there's a talking mirror!"

"Then just throw the mirror away"

I was silent for a moment then without saying anything

I hung up

Well that was embarrassing, I got too agitated and just started blowing my brother's ear off

But I quickly brushed off my embarrassment, I had always been shameless ever since I was young and this sort of outburst is the norm so it wasn't that much of a big deal

He's right, I can't give up on such a good house just because of a single mirror

I glared at the mirror and tried to take it off but it wouldn't budge

Somewhat angered I impatiently looked behind the mirror and to my frustration

The mirror was bolted

I was dumbfounded

Who would bolt a fucking mirror that's only worth a few federation dollars?

It's not even a bronze mirror or a mirror that has thick layers, neither is it framed with gold or silver but a regular circular mirror that you can pick up from a random street stall

It's a cheap low quality mirror that would worn out after a few months of use

Which people in their right minds would bolt such a mirror to their wall

They ever reinforced the frames!

If you were going to spend soo much effort on a mirror then you should have chosen an expensive high quality mirror instead

In the first place why is there such a cheap mirror inside a mansion? Although compared to the truly luxurious mansions, this house's appearance could be considered modest but nonetheless it's price was worth the name 'Mansion'

After spending millions on a house, you bolt in a cheap mirror that you found on the streets

I can't say whether you're wasteful or stingy

I sighed and chose to postpone throwing away the mirror, it was getting late and I was hungry

I'll just hire someone tomorrow to remove the mirror

With that in mind I opened my phone and tapped the food delivery app

The kitchen utensils still haven't arrived yet and the only thing that's in this house is a sofa set so I have to make do

After I finished ordering I suddenly received a call from my useless brother

I was contemplating whether to pick it up or just leave it be

But decided to answer the call to make up for my embarrassment of having being pointed to do an extremely obvious thing

"What's up"

I answered my tone casual and unhurried

"Elaine have you eaten yet?'"

"No"

"Then let's eat together"

"I already ordered"

"Ordered? You weren't gonna eat out?"

"Why would I do that?"

"....did you forget that you said the house was haunted by a 'talking mirror'?"

"So? I don't see the connection in ordering food to the house being haunted"

"If you ordered food then you're gonna eat inside that house? Did you already remove the mirror?"

"I couldn't it's bolted"

"So where were you gonna eat"

"....Inside the house?"

"Why would you do that?"

"Because it's a waste if I don't the house is expensive"

"Why are you worrying about that when I paid for the house"

"It doesn't matter who paid for the house, it's still expensive"

"That's not the point right now"

"Then what is?"

"You gotta be kidding me, are you dense or just plain stupid"

"That's hurtful"

"So you're eating in a haunted house?"